Tuesday, March 9, 2021

MARCH 2021 FRESH EXPRESS INFORMATION | Columbia Borough Police Department



The March 2021 Fresh Express Food Giveaway will take place on Friday, March 26, 2021 at the Salem United Church of Christ located at 324 Walnut Street, Columbia, PA from 3:30pm-5:00pm.  Columbia residents are welcome, please bring an ID or proof of address and bags/boxes to take food home.  For more information please https://www.facebook.com/FEColumbia or call 717-684-1497.

Sourced via CRIMEWATCH®https://lancaster.crimewatchpa.com/columbiapd/10552/post/march-2021-fresh-express-information
 

MARCH 2021 FRESH EXPRESS INFORMATION | Columbia Borough Police Department

Linden Hall, Columbia ready to collide in Class 2A championship clash

Columbia got 19 points from Brie Droege and 14 points from twin sister Brooke Droege in its 49-34 semifinal triumph over Halifax, as the Tide is now 6-1 in its last seven games.

Linden Hall and Columbia had met in nonleague games the previous two seasons; the Lions swept the home-and-home series. This rematch is for the D3 gold trophy, and a spot in the PIAA playoffs next Tuesday against the District 2 champ. FYI: Linden Hall topped D2 winner Holy Cross in last year’s PIAA playoffs. Holy Cross is still alive in the D2 bracket, so that rematch is still in play.

Columbia is back in a district final for the first time since the Tide fell to Camp Hill in the 2017 2A title tilt. Linden Hall is appearing in a D3 finale for the fourth year in a row; the Lions fell to Lebanon Catholic in the 2018 1A championship clash before winning the last two 2A titles. Don’t forget: Linden Hall joins the L-L League as an associate member in 2022-23.

Columbia has won four D3 crowns: 2A banners in 1995, 1996 and 2000, and a 1A crown in 1997 to polish off a nifty run of three championships in a row. Twins Brie Droege (19.3, 80 percent free throws on 96-of-120 attempts) and Brooke Droege (14.7, 10 3’s) are having breakout ninth-grade seasons for the Tide, while Morgan Bigler (9.5) has protected the paint and sniper MacKenzie Burke (7.5, 23 3’s) has chipped in on the perimeter.

MORE:

https://lancasteronline.com/sports/4-local-girls-basketball-teams-still-dancing-in-district-3-playoffs-previews-notes-facts-stats/article_06c92fbc-7f5a-11eb-877b-2f1ed4bcd66a.html

Sunday, March 7, 2021

About Town - March 7, 2021

This week's photos of Columbia

(Click/tap on photos to see larger, sharper images.)


On Saturday night, the LanCarolers from Lancaster's Prima Theatre 
performed on the 400 block of Chestnut Street, as they did 


Columbia Spy was lucky enough to catch part of their performance.


Earlier in the week, this guy was maintaining streetlights around town.

Earlier yet, this murder of crows made themselves at home atop the Elks.

The one who squawks the loudest becomes the boss.
No brains required.
Same with humans.

Sudstown, a once-great Columbia establishment

The borough hall clocks will soon get new, updated motors. 

According to legend, the two holes in the one clock face (near XII o'clock and VI o'clock) are the result of someone firing a .22 from across the street.

It seems there's only one way of doing things in Columbia, quite often the wrong way.

Chopper flyover

Elevated mailbox for airmail, possibly from the chopper flyover . . .

. . . or from the warthog flyover.

New, improved dumpster, now with porta-pottie built right in!

Heavenly light leaking through the firmament

New reflective street signs are being installed around town due to state requirements.
So much for history.

Here's an example of the older ones.

This "Survey Vehicle" with a "Max Speed [of] 5 mph" hung briefly on Front Street last Thursday.
(It was going more than 5 mph after it pulled away.)


Not bad artwork at the canoe/kayak launch under the Veterans Memorial Bridge

Car transport trailer on North 6th

Lost door looking for a vehicle on South 3rd

We're still waiting for that bridge rehabilitation project - 
Will it happen in time?

This show window at Burning Bridge Antiques was replaced on Monday morning due to a large crack in the previous window.

Obviously a good place to drop your drawers

No ADA access!
Why?
Because someone didn't allow enough setback when the posts were installed.
Oh well, the borough will say it's "grandfathered in."

Dead but not gone

Tis the season

Seating for chairmen and chairwomen

A head for flowers

Searching for salvation at Borough Hall


Here are three views of the river from Todd Stahl:




Columbia school board prepares 2021-22 budget with no tax increase

The board reviewed a preview of its general fund budget for the 2021-22 school year with no tax increase.

Overview: The school district's real estate tax rate is set at 26.46 mills. Taxpayers with an average assessed property would pay $2,470 in taxes. Overall, the district estimates revenues of $26.56 million, up 1.49% from 2020-21, and predicts $27.43 million in expenses, up 1.11% from the current year.

Expenses: The $300,782 rise in expenses is attributed to a $420,000 increase in cyber charter tuition. The district will also seek to hire new technology and autistic support teachers and fill six other vacant positions. District reserves would be used to cover an estimated $878,982 deficit between revenues and expenses.

What's next: The board expects to adopt a proposed final budget in May and a final budget in June.

Federal aid: The school district will receive $2.38 million in additional federal grant funds to assist with coronavirus-related expenses. This financial aid, according to chief of finance and operations Keith Ramsey, must be spent by Sept. 30, 2023. To date, the district has received $2.97 million in federal aid related to COVID-19.

Cyber charter school reform: Last month, the board adopted a resolution calling for reforms to the current cyber-charter funding formula. The district initially expected to spend $1.5 million on tuition to enroll 70 standard and 26 special education students in cyber charter schools in 2021-22. However, Gov. Tom Wolf has proposed measures to reform charter school funding that would cap tuition rates for standard students at $9,500 a learner, down 14.63% or $1,629 from initial district estimates. If approved, the district would save roughly $414,030 on tuition costs as of next school year, Ramsey said.


https://lancasteronline.com/news/regional/columbia-schools-prepare-2021-22-budget-with-no-tax-increase/article_f9c621c0-7ec4-11eb-83fb-a31e0932612a.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=email&utm_campaign=user-share 

Thursday, March 4, 2021

Columbia plans return to full in-person learning at all schools

The school district is prepared to put the finishing touches on its return to full-time, in-person instruction beginning March 8. To address any additional public comments or concerns, district officials will host three information sessions in the following formats: an in-person and recorded session at the middle schools March 10; a virtual session at the elementary school March 11; and a Q&A session at the high school March 16. Further details will be available on the district's website.

MORE:

https://lancasteronline.com/news/regional/columbia-plans-return-to-full-in-person-learning-at-all-schools/article_a9a2aabe-7c63-11eb-a907-8bf2bccc7aad.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=email&utm_campaign=user-share